Transport

Third Bridge – debunking a myth

Reading-On-Thames9 Comments

geocentric

What is the most famous ancient belief that’s subsequently been disproved?  A flat earth?  Heat coming from caloric?  The existence of aether?  The earth as the centre of the universe?  The guy who sculpted the Forbury Lion killed himself?  Well, it turns out we have a new candidate to top them all: a third Reading bridge would increase traffic in South Oxfordshire.  This long-standing principle has been central to opposition to the new crossing from the north bank for decades, but according to a new report it’s been sensationally disproved.  Continue reading “Third Bridge – debunking a myth” →

Third Bridge – debunking a myth

The Kennet Mouth Bridge – Calming Troubled Waters

Reading-On-Thames, , 45 Comments

bridgeMRT

The East Reading MRT is a proposed bus, cycle and pedestrian link across the mouth of the Kennet to link Thames Valley Park directly to Reading Station.  I’ve covered the topic before, but this week there are further exhibitions to coincide with the submission of a planning application.  I called by earlier to find out the latest.  Opinions were mixed, but it’s fair to say that opponents were more numerous than supporters.  There was a make-shift protest stall outside the event trying to garner signatures for a petition against the scheme.  I stopped to talk to them too about their concerns.

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The Kennet Mouth Bridge – Calming Troubled Waters

Reading’s Regeneration – a game of two halves

Reading-On-Thames, , , 23 Comments

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April was a month of contrasting fortunes for Reading’s two major regeneration projects.  Royal Elm Park, a convention centre and hotel complex adjoining Madejski stadium, was enthusiastically approved by the council, to wide acclaim from the business community.  By contrast, Station Hill is being put up for sale, which will likely see the proposals back on the drawing board.  Since 2005, variations of plans have come and gone.  The five hectare site adjacent to Reading Station was supposed to transform the town, but years on it hasn’t lived up to its incredible potential.  Station Hill really is the Jack Wilshere of regeneration schemes. Continue reading “Reading’s Regeneration – a game of two halves” →

Reading’s Regeneration – a game of two halves

Caversham Park – Blue Sky Thinking

Reading-On-Thames, , , , 34 Comments

cavershamparksouth

Last year it was announced that the BBC would vacate the 1850-built Caversham Park house, where its foreign media monitoring service is based, and sell off the estate.  This week it emerged that the council and the BBC are in dispute over a “Tree preservation order” covering the site.  The council has dug in meaning the BBC cannot start clearing the site in an attempt to maximise the appeal to any developer. Continue reading “Caversham Park – Blue Sky Thinking” →

Caversham Park – Blue Sky Thinking

Cemetery Junction – Ending the Gridlock

Reading-On-Thames, , 33 Comments

cemetery-junction-poster

Poor air quality in East Reading hit the local news this week.  The giant biscuit factory that once dominated the area has long gone.  In a town with minimal industrial activity, the modern culprit is vehicle emissions, and especially those from the idling traffic along Kings Road that has gradually deteriorated from a brief peak-time issue, to virtually ever-present.  In a town renowned for its congestion, Cemetery Junction is Reading’s flagship traffic jam.  A third bridge and investment in public transport are clearly the focus for a solution, but I think we should look closely at how we use our limited road space to keep things moving better.  The current situation is bad for residents, visitors, commuters and the environment, and I think we should explore other options. Continue reading “Cemetery Junction – Ending the Gridlock” →

Cemetery Junction – Ending the Gridlock

Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel

Reading-On-Thames, , 16 Comments

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Last Friday I attended a public exhibition at the Town Hall for revised proposals for the development previously known as Swan Heights to be built on the former BMW site on Napier Road.  Here’s what I picked up, and some follow up thoughts…  Continue reading “Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel” →

Swan Heights, the Thames and a Tunnel

East Reading MRT – widening the debate

Reading-On-Thames12 Comments

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This week I attended a public consultation on the East Reading MRT.  MRT stands for mass rapid transit.  The proposal is for a new link from the big Tesco’s on Napier Road through to Thames Valley Park, including a bridge over the Kennet.  A new park & ride scheme would be based at the eastern end.  The media have picked up some local opposition to the impact to the riverside, but I think they miss a bigger picture. Continue reading “East Reading MRT – widening the debate” →

East Reading MRT – widening the debate

The Third Reading Bridge

Reading-On-Thames, , , , , 7 Comments

caversham-lakes-12

You can’t write a blog about Reading without tackling the longest standing local talking point.  Awful traffic jams on all approaches to the existing Caversham and Reading Bridges are the bane of lives both sides of the river – it’s not hard to see why more capacity is needed.  When it comes to Reading’s Third Bridge saga, the only difficult question to answer is for exactly how many decades this idea has been discussed and procrastinated: I’m afraid I can’t do any better than ‘many’.

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The Third Reading Bridge

Throwing the Toys out of the Pram

Reading-On-Thames, , 9 Comments

ToysRUs

This week a ‘screening opinion’ – a kind of forerunner to a planning application – has been submitted for the closure and redevelopment of Homebase and Toys R Us.  The proposed scheme would see an incredible 800 homes built on the site in blocks of up to 19 storeys.  Read on for some views and my typically optimistic vision as to how this whole area could be improved more substantially.

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Throwing the Toys out of the Pram

Reading 2050 -The plan for the Tram

Reading-On-Thames, , , , , , , , , , 25 Comments

central_berkshire_tram_map_reading

What is #Reading2050?

A couple of weeks ago I attended an exhibition in town called Reading 2050.  The initiative seeks to create a vision for the development of the town.  Their representative was an enthusiastic Scottish lady who talked visitors through some glossy but fairly non-specific visuals.  Their document talks of three alternative visions:

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Reading 2050 -The plan for the Tram